Prisoners and Tuberculosis

Baroness Stern: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	How many prisoners have been diagnosed with tuberculosis during the last three years; and
	How many prisoners diagnosed with tuberculosis during the last three years showed resistance to any of the main tuberculosis drugs; and
	How many times in the past three years prisons have been contacted by the public health authorities and asked to screen a prisoner who has been named as a contact by a tuberculosis-infected person.

Lord Rooker: The number of new cases of tuberculosis reported by Prison Service establishments over the three previous years for which complete data are available was as follows:
	1997-98: 50
	1998-99: 50
	1999-2000: 52
	Healthcare statistics for 2000-01 have not yet been fully collected and collated.
	The remainder of the information requested is not collected centrally and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

Prisoners and Tuberculosis

Baroness Stern: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether there is a written agreement between the public health authorities and the prison service on the procedure to follow in cases where a prison is contacted by a public health authority and asked to screen a prisoner who has been named as a contact by a tuberculosis-infected person.

Lord Rooker: The Prison Service undertakes diagnosis, care, treatment and contact tracing for tuberculosis in conjunction with local National Health Service specialists and in accordance with British Thoracic Society guidelines. While there is no written agreement to this effect, establishments would be expected to co-operate fully with any contact-tracing exercise initiated in the community.

Prisons: Budget for Chaplains

Lord Avebury: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What is the budget for the chaplaincy at HM Prisons Ashwell, Gartree, Long Lartin, Sudbury, the Verne and Wandsworth; and what items are covered by this budget.

Lord Rooker: While prison establishments have a specific budget earmarked for equipment, materials and expenses for the conduct of religious education and activities, this does not include the salary and related costs for full-time chaplains and the fees paid to visiting ministers which cannot be immediately separated from other salary and agency fee budgets. When all the relevant funding provision for the establishments concerned has been identified, I will write to the noble Lord and place a copy in the Library of the House.

British Nationality Act Review

Lord Avebury: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What was the closing date for submissions in connection with their review of the British Nationality Act 1981; and when they expect to announce their conclusions.

Lord Rooker: No closing date was set for submissions relating to the review of the full capacity requirements in the British Nationality Act 1981. We asked the original group consulted to respond, if possible, by 13 October 2000 and the later group by 17 November 2000. We are now examining the responses to the consultation exercise and hope to be able to announce our conclusions later this year.

Drugs Strategy: Residential Care Standards for Younger Adults

Lord Taverne: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What plans they have to ensure that the residential care standards for younger adults do not adversely affect the Government's national drugs strategy and its crime reduction agenda, and in particular access to the residential treatment and the effectiveness of such treatment.

Lord Rooker: There has been a detailed consultation exercise undertaken as part of the development of the residential care standards for younger adults. In addition to the general consultation, four workshops have been held involving service users and residential drug treatment providers. These gave this group the opportunity to raise any concerns they have regarding the impact that the care standards would have on the residential drug treatment sector. The Department of Health has also undertaken a detailed analysis of the current provision in the residential treatment sector.
	These pieces of work will inform the Department of Health in setting suitable standards and a timescale for their introduction in order to prevent a reduction of availability within the residential drug treatment sector so that they do not adversely affect targets within the Government's drugs strategy.

Police Officers: Retirement

Lord Janner of Braunstone: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	How many police officers, and what proportion of each category of rank of police officers, the Metropolitan Police Service expects to lose after 30 years of service, in each rank of the years 2001-11; and[HL413];
	How many police officers, and what proportion of each category of rank of police officer, each of the police authorities in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland expect to lose after 30 years service, in each of the years 2001-11.

Lord Rooker: I can answer only for the police service in England and Wales. Information about the total number of police officers who will leave after 30 years service in each of the next 10 years is not collected. Projections of retirements each year in total, though not by rank, are available for the Metropolitan Police and have been provided by the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis. The available information is set out in the table.
	
		Metropolitan Police
		
			 Year Projected Number of officer retirements with 30 years service 
			 2001-02 383 
			 2002-03 391 
			 2003-04 410 
			 2004-05 393 
			 2005-06 540 
			 2006-07 661 
			 2007-08 524 
			 2008-09 516 
			 2009-10 619 
			 2010-11 687

Police Officers: Retirement

Lord Janner of Braunstone: asked Her Majesty's Government: What consideration they have given to methods to encourage appropriate police officers to delay their retirement after 30 years service.[HL416]

Lord Rooker: We are considering a range of options that might be used to encourage suitable police officers to delay their retirement as part of the police reform process.

Police Officers: Retirement

Lord Janner of Braunstone: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether they will detail the current provision that enables police officers to carry on for a further five years after their initial 30 years service, subject to the agreement of the chief constable and the conditions prevailing in the force; and what proposals they have for changing this situation.

Lord Rooker: A police officer is entitled to retire with maximum pension benefits after completion of 30 years' service. However officers are, unless their retirement is required in the interests of the efficiency of the force, entitled to continue to serve until compulsory retirement age. Compulsory retirement age for the majority of officers--those who are constables and sergeants--is age 55.
	Whether or not an officer has completed 30 years' service on reaching compulsory retirement age, there is provision made in the regulations for retirement to be postponed for a period of up to five years. In the case of the ranks up to superintendent, the decision to postpone is one for the chief constable. For more senior officers it is a matter for the police authority. This is set out in Regulation A18(2) of the Police Pensions Regulations 1987.
	Whether an extension of service will be granted if requested is a matter for local discretion depending on the fitness for continued duty of the individual officer and the needs of the force.
	We will be considering whether any changes are required to the power to postpone, or whether guidance for forces on the use of the power to extend service is required, as part of the police reform process.

Police Morale

Lord Janner of Braunstone: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether they will take appropriate steps to improve morale in the police forces of the United Kingdom.

Lord Rooker: As part of the process of police reform, the Government are determined to tackle those elements of police officers' working lives that can create frustration and detract from their ability to do their jobs in the way that they would wish.
	We are determined to reduce the burden of unnecessary bureaucracy.
	We are investing in technological support to help increase the effectiveness of the police in fighting crime and to ensure that officers are able to spend as much of their time as possible on the front line.
	An ambitious programme of work in police training has begun to raise professional standards for officers and support staff and to achieve greater consistency nationally.
	We have turned round the decline in police numbers that started under the previous government. Substantial government investment in the police service is now delivering the positive results that we promised when the Crime Fighting Fund was launched in September 1999 and commenced in April 2000.
	Police numbers rose in the 12 months to March 2001 by 1,349 officers, to 125,519. An increase of 1.1 per cent. This is the largest single annual increase in police numbers since 1988-89.
	We intend that police numbers overall should continue to rise. We expect that police strength will reach 130,000 officers by March 2004.

Communications Data Protection

The Earl of Northesk: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	How they respond to the recent warning quoted in the media from the Information Commissioner that, within the terms of the Council of Europe's proposed Cybercrime Convention, access to communication traffic data and location data by law enforcement authorities should be limited to cases where the need to prevent or detect crime or safeguard national security justifies the privacy intrusion; and what implications this has for their current approach to the Telecommunications Data Protection Directive.

Lord Rooker: The Government agree that intrusions into privacy must be properly justified. The Government are satisfied that United Kingdom law on access to communications data is consistent with this. The Telecommunications Data Protection Directive, which was transposed into UK law in 1999, is being re-negotiated as the Communications Data Protection Directive. The approach taken in these negotiations is consistent with this approach.

G8 Summit

Lord Lipsey: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What was the outcome of the G8 summit held in Genoa from 20 to 22 July.

Baroness Amos: The Prime Minister and other leaders of the G8 met in Genoa from 20 to 22 July.
	Television and newspaper coverage of the summit was dominated by the violence, vandalism and a tragic loss of life in Genoa's streets.
	In their concluding statement, the Prime Minister and his G8 colleagues deplored the violence and vandalism the people of Genoa had to endure during the summit.
	They made clear they would defend the right of peaceful protesters to have their voices heard.
	But, equally, as democratically elected leaders they made clear they could not and would not accept that a small unrepresentative minority should be allowed to disrupt their discussions through violence on the key issues affecting the world.
	Leaders discussed the prospects for the global economy. They expressed cautious optimism that, despite the current slowdown, sound economic fundamentals would bring a resumption of stronger growth.
	They expressed strong support for Prime Minister Koizumi's reform programme in Japan, and agreed on the importance of launching a new round of negotiations in the World Trade Organisation later this year at the ministerial meeting in Doha. They each pledged their personal engagement to make sure this was successfully achieved.
	The Government believe a new trade round would provide a significant boost to confidence in the world economy. It has been estimated that a truly liberalising round could boost global income by some $400 billion a year.
	Of this, between $100 billion and $150 billion could go to developing countries. G8 leaders agreed that increased trade, and particularly access to markets in the developed world, was the single biggest thing we could do to help their economies.
	G8 leaders met in Genoa with leaders of five African countries, as well as representatives of Latin America and Asia. With the Prime Minister's strong personal encouragement, the G8 welcomed the new readiness among African leaders to take responsibility for resolving the problems of their own continent.
	They agreed to appoint senior personal representatives to meet with the leaders of the New African Initiative and to work up a concrete plan of action between now and next year's summit in Canada.
	G8 leaders pledged to press ahead with the implementation of the debt relief initiative agreed at their Cologne summit in 1999, which has slowly brought debt relief of some $53 billion to some of the world's poorest countries. They agreed to make particular efforts to help those countries affected by conflict to come forward for relief under this programme and to ensure the sustainability of the reduced debt burdens of those countries which have already benefited from it.
	The G8 announced that they would together be making an initial contribution of $1.3 billion to the new Global Fund to fight HIV/AIDS, Malaria and Tuberculosis and welcomed a further $500 million pledged by other partners. The Government have pledged $200 million to this effort.
	G8 leaders expressed their determination to press forward, in consultation with the United Nations and other interested stakeholders, to ensure this fund is operational by the end of this year.
	They also welcomed recent steps by the pharmaceutical industry to make drugs more affordable in the poorest countries. The Government have themselves established a dialogue with industry here in Britain to see what more can be done and how the Government could help.
	G8 leaders had an open and constructive discussion on the environment, in particular on climate change. They recognised that this is a pressing issue requiring a global solution. They firmly agreed on the need to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. And they made clear each of their governments would participate constructively in the current negotiations in Bonn on the Kyoto Protocol, helping to pave the way for the successful conclusion of those negotiations earlier today.
	Leaders welcomed the work that was set in hand at last year's summit in Okinawa on ways to promote greater use of renewable energy and to promote the use of information and communications technology in developing countries.
	They pledged to continue efforts to promote a clear understanding by the public of food safety benefits and risks. They agreed on the need to provide consumers with relevant information on the safety of food products, based on independent scientific advice, sound risk analysis and the latest research developments.
	The G8 welcomed the outcome of the recent conference the Government organised in Bangkok on new biotechnology food and crops and agreed to ask relevant international bodies to pursue its recommendations.
	They discussed the situation in the Middle East, where they called for immediate action to end violence and terrorism. They also discussed Macedonia and urged all parties there to display maximum responsibility so as to achieve rapid success in the current political dialogue.
	At the conclusion of the summit on 22 July, the Prime Minister and his G8 colleagues accepted the invitation of the Canadian Prime Minister to meet next year on 26 to 28 June in Alberta.
	But G8 leaders unanimously agreed that the work of the G8 must and will go on.
	I have today placed in the Library of the House copies of the G7 and G8 communiques, the reports from the task forces on renewable energy and the digital divide, the statements made concerning the Middle East and Macedonia and the Genoa Plan for Africa.

Courts: Construction Contracts

Lord Lester of Herne Hill: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether they intend to authorise private consortia to take over the financing, management or control of courts in England and Wales; and, if so, upon what terms and conditions they will do so.

Lord Irvine of Lairg: The Government have no intention of involving the private sector in the management or control of courts. A total of 16 private finance initiative contracts for the construction and maintenance of combined, Crown and magistrates' court buildings have been awarded or are being negotiated.

Lord Chancellor's Advisory Board on Family Law

Baroness David: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	When they intend to publish the fourth annual report of the Lord Chancellor's Advisory Board on Family Law.

Lord Irvine of Lairg: The fourth annual report of my Advisory Board on Family Law was published on 20 July 2001 and copies have been placed in the Library.

Tribunals Review

Lord Dubs: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	When they intend to publish the report of Sir Andrew Leggatt's review of tribunals.

Lord Irvine of Lairg: Sir Andrew Leggatt presented his report to me on 31 March 2001. The report will be published shortly, together with a consultation paper seeking views on its principal recommendations. Copies of both documents will be placed in the Libraries of both Houses.

Civic Honours Competitions

Lord Dubs: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	When the competitions for civic honours to mark The Queen's Golden Jubilee will be launched.

Lord Irvine of Lairg: The competitions for grants of city status to one town in each of England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, and for a Lord Mayoralty, will be launched next Wednesday 25 July, by means of press notices. Letters will be posted on 24 July to the towns and cities known to be interested in applying for these honours. Both the letters and the press notices will provide some guidance on the main factors that will be taken into account in identifying the successful towns and city. The honours will, however, continue to be rare marks of distinction conferred, on ministerial advice, under the Royal Prerogative, rather than rights to be earned by the Meeting of specific criteria.
	Applications submitted for the grant of city status to mark the Millennium will be reconsidered if the local authorities so wish, with or without additional material. The closing date for the submission of applications and any fresh material will be 12 October 2001. The Government hope to announce the results of the competitions in the early months of 2002.

Medical Data: Use and Disclosure

Lord Dubs: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether they will place in the Library copies of the information Commissioner's consultation paper on the use and disclosure of medical data.

Lord Irvine of Lairg: Copies of the Information Commissioner's consultation paper have today been placed in the Library of the House.

US National Missile Defence System: UK Citizens' Representations

Baroness Miller of Chilthorne Domer: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	How those opposed to the United Kingdom being part of the United States national missile defence system can register their views within the United Kingdom's democratic system.

Lord Bach: There are a range of ways in which individuals can register their views. For example, Her Majesty's Government continue to receive representations on missile defence from a wide range of individuals and groups both directly and through Members of Parliament.

Councillors: Time off for Civic Duties

Lord Greaves: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether allowing councillors time off for their civic duties constitutes a political donation requiring shareholder approval under the Political Parties, Elections and Referendums Act 2000 or any other legislation; and if so, what is the relationship between this requirement and the statutory provision for time off to attend meetings of local authorities under Section 50 of the Employment Rights Act 1996 or any other legislation.

Lord Falconer of Thoroton: I will write to the noble Lord and place a copy of my letter in the Libraries of both Houses.

Eurostar Trains: Delay on 8 July

Lord Lamont of Lerwick: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether they will institute a departmental enquiry into the delays on Eurostar trains on 8 July.

Lord Falconer of Thoroton: This regrettable incident caused a great deal of disruption to Eurostar and domestic services and I understand that the operators involved, together with Railtrack, met to discuss it on 13 July. Although there were no safety implications from the incident, and it therefore remains primarily a matter for the operators, we are urging them to quickly take on board any lessons to be learned. We have also requested a report on the incident from the Strategic Rail Authority. Incidents such as these do highlight the benefits that will flow from the opening of the CTRL when Eurostar will be able to utilise a dedicated high-speed railway.

Lambeth Bridge

Lord Higgins: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What estimate has been made of increased congestion and pollution which will result from changes in traffic lanes on Lambeth Bridge; and whether they will place in the Library of the House a copy of the cost benefit analysis which was used to justify the changes.

Lord Falconer of Thoroton: This is a matter for Transport for London. For further information contact Derek Turner, the Director of Street Management at Transport for London, Windsor House, 42-50 Victoria Street, London SW1H 0TL.

Strategic Rail Authority: Chief Executive Contract

Lord Berkeley: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Why they awarded a new three-year contract to the chief executive of the Strategic Rail Authority in June, when his previous contract does not expire until 2002.

Lord Falconer of Thoroton: Mr Grant was appointed as Franchising Director on 1 May 1999. The appointment was advertised for up to five years. At that time there was no legislative authority to establish the SRA. It was not clear when this would be received or, for certain, what form the SRA would take. Mr Grant's initial appointment was therefore until 30 April 2002. The possibility of extension, up to a total of five years, once the SRA was formally established was always open. Mr Grant's contract now expires on 30 April 2004.

Strategic Rail Authority: Chief Executive Contract

Lord Berkeley: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether the new three-year contract to the chief executive of the Strategic Rail Authority included higher emoluments than the previous one; and if so, on what basis the emoluments were performance-related.

Lord Falconer of Thoroton: No, the emoluments of the chief executive of the SRA did not change.

Underground Fares: European Comparison

Lord Lester of Herne Hill: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	In what other European countries are the fares for metropolitan underground rail transport equal to or greater than those charged for travel by metropolitan underground rail transport in London.

Lord Falconer of Thoroton: Direct comparisons of fares between European cities are not possible. A number of factors including the varying location, length and frequency of journeys, travel concessions offered and wider geographic and demographic differences make any meaningful comparison difficult.

Watford: Mayoral Elections

Lord Greaves: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether it is appropriate and democratic that Watford is to have an elected executive mayor on the basis of a referendum in which only 12 per cent of the electorate voted in favour of such a post.

Lord Falconer of Thoroton: As provided by Parliament, the electors of Watford have chosen to have a directly elected mayor.

Watford: Mayoral Elections

Lord Greaves: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether the election for an executive mayor in Watford has been postponed to next May; and if so, for what reasons.

Lord Falconer of Thoroton: We have laid the Local Authorities (Elected Mayors) (Elections, Terms of Office and Casual Vacancies) (England) Regulations 2001. These regulations provide that a first mayoral election must take place on the first Thursday in May; or the third Thursday in October whichever occurs first after the end of the period of three months beginning with either the date on which a referendum is held; or the date that regulations made under section 44 of the Local Government Act 2000 (establishing the rules for the conduct of mayoral elections) come into force; whichever is the later.
	We intend, subject to parliamentary approval of a draft, to make the regulations under Section 44 of the Local Government Act 2000 in the autumn. Accordingly, it is expected that Watford will hold its first mayoral election next May.

Millennium Dome Site

Baroness Noakes: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether the Millennium Dome site has been handed over to English Partnership.

Lord Falconer of Thoroton: English Partnerships has owned the land on which the Dome sits since 1997, as part of the Greenwich Peninsula estate acquired from British Gas. The lease of the Dome site to the New Millennium Experience Company ended, as planned, on 30 June 2001. English Partnerships therefore continues to own the Dome site, and in accordance with the legal agreement between English Partnerships and the New Millennium Experience Company, English Partnership now owns the Dome structure as well as the land, and also has control of the Dome site.

Millennium Dome Site

Baroness Noakes: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether the market testing in relation to the sale of the Millennium Dome site undertaken by the independent professional team has been completed; and if not, when the market testing is expected to be completed; and
	What is the status of the Wellcome Trust in relation to the sale of the Millennium Dome site; and
	Whether they have been advised to conduct a new competition for the sale of the Millennium Dome site, and, if so, when they intend to announce the terms of that competition.

Lord Falconer of Thoroton: As part of the ongoing process, the Dome sale team has had, and continues to have, numerous meetings and discussions with interested parties concerning the future use of the Dome. To reveal details of any of these discussions could compromise the ongoing process and would be against the public interest. It is of course open to interested organisations to make their interest public.
	The market testing has revealed a wide range of interest in the Dome and the regeneration of land on the peninsula. On the basis of professional advice, we are progressing discussions with a small number of serious contenders. Market testing will continue to ensure that all serious bids are considered.
	The future of the Dome is a key factor in the continued regeneration of the Greenwich Peninsula. We are keeping other major stakeholders, particularly Greenwich Council, informed of progress, and the Greenwich Peninsula Partnership continues to evolve. The Government will continue to keep Parliament informed of the progress being made.

Millennium Dome Site

Baroness Noakes: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Further to the Written Answer by the Lord Falconer of Thoroton, on 10 May (WA421), whether they will publish (a) their quantification of the benefits of retaining the Dome structure on the sale of the Dome site; and (b) the period over which such benefits are expected to be realised.

Lord Falconer of Thoroton: These issues are continuously reviewed and considered in relation to the ongoing sale process. Details must remain confidential, in the public interest.

New Millennium Experience Company: Financial Statements

Baroness Noakes: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether they will publish draft financial statements for the New Millennium Experience Company for the six months ended 30 June 2001.

Lord Falconer of Thoroton: Only companies listed on the Stock Exchange are required to produce interim accounts. The New Millennium Experience Company (NMEC) is not listed on the Stock Exchange; to require it to produce audited interim accounts would take time and place a more onerous regime on them than other similar non-departmental public bodies.

New Millennium Experience Company: Financial Statements

Baroness Noakes: asked her Majesty's Government:
	When they will publish the annual report and accounts for the New Millennium Experience Company Limited for the year ended 31 December 2000.

Lord Falconer of Thoroton: Copies of the New Millennium Experience Company's annual report and financial statements for the period ending 31 December 2000 have been placed in the Libraries of both Houses.

European Union Committee of the Regions: English Candidates

Lord Tomlinson: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What steps they are taking to select English candidates for appointment to the next term of the European Union Committee of the Regions.

Lord Falconer of Thoroton: Members of the Committee of the Regions (CoR) are appointed by the European Council on the basis of proposals made by member states. We have invited comments from the Local Government Association and from regional interests on a proposed procedure for selecting persons to be proposed to the European Council this autumn as English members of the UK delegation to the Committee of the Regions.
	The proposals are designed to give regional bodies--regional chambers and the Greater London Authority--a formal link with the Committee of the Regions, while maintaining a coherent group representation for England as a whole. These proposals reflect our intention to make an order under the Greater London Authority Act 1999, to amend the European Communities (Amendment) Act 1993, so as to extend eligibility for CoR membership to members of the Greater London Authority, including the Mayor.
	A copy of a paper setting out the proposed selection procedure has been placed in the Library of the House.

Ulster Scots: Recognition of Language and Culture

Lord Laird: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What progress they are making in their representations to the Government of the Irish Republic concerning that government's implementation of the part of the Belfast agreement relating to the recognition of language and culture for the Ulster Scots movement.

Lord Falconer of Thoroton: The Irish Government are committed under the Good Friday agreement to recognising the importance of respect, understanding and tolerance in relation to linguistic and cultural diversity.
	The Government have not made any representations to the Irish Government regarding the recognition of language and culture for the Ulster Scots movement. However implementation of that part of the Good Friday agreement which relates to Ulster Scots is being taken forward by the Ulster Scots Agency of the North South language body which was set up following the brokering of the agreement.

Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission: Appointments

Lord Laird: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	When appointments, and how many, are expected to be made to the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission.

Lord Falconer of Thoroton: Further appointments to the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission will be made as soon as possible, and by the end of the summer. The response to the advertisements was very high (over 500 applications were received) so the process has taken longer than expected. The number of appointments is still to be determined.

Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission: Appointments

Lord Laird: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether they are committed to ensuring that future appointments to the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission are on a basis of fairness and equality and that they represent the entire community in Northern Ireland.

Lord Falconer of Thoroton: The Government are firmly committed to ensuring that public appointments are made fairly and on the basis of merit. Specifically in the case of the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission, the Secretary of State is required by Section 68(3) of the Northern Ireland Act 1998, as far as practicable, to secure that the commissioners as a group, are representative of the whole community in Northern Ireland.

Former Prime Ministers: Allowances

Baroness Massey of Darwen: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What effect will the abolition of the office costs allowance have on the public duties allowance payable to former Prime Ministers.

Lord Williams of Mostyn: The public duties allowance can be claimed by former Prime Ministers for expenses incurred for their continuing work for the public service and charity. The allowance, which was formerly linked to the office costs allowance, will from 5 July 2001 be set at the same level as the ceiling under the new centralised arrangements for the payment by the House authorities of the support and secretarial staff of Members of Parliament with London constituencies. This is currently £70,000.

Performance and Innovation Unit: Management of Risk

Baroness Massey of Darwen: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What additional projects are planned for the Performance and Innovation Unit.

Lord Williams of Mostyn: The Prime Minister has asked the Performance and Innovation Unit to undertake a further project looking at how to improve the Government's management of risk.
	Effective management of a wide range of risks is essential both for the delivery of improved public services and for the achievement of the Government's wider goals.
	The project will identify best practice in decision-making on risks and the best methods for promoting this within public services. The work will build on some of the steps that have already been taken to address the concerns raised by the Phillips Inquiry into BSE about the handling of risk and uncertainty across government. The project will look at communications with the public and also at approaches to risk where some of the responsibility may fall to the private and voluntary sectors or to individuals.
	The Performance and Innovation Unit will complete its work early next year.
	Barbara Roche MP, Minister of State in the Cabinet Office, will be the sponsor Minister.

Intelligence and Security Committee Report

Lord Lipsey: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	When they will respond to the Intelligence and Security Committee's interim report for 2000-01.

Lord Williams of Mostyn: The government response to the Intelligence and Security Committee's report was laid before Parliament on 20 July 2001.

Business Appointments Advisory Committee

Lord Temple-Morris: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether they have received the fourth report of the Advisory Committee on Business Appointments.

Lord Williams of Mostyn: The committee has submitted its fourth report to the Prime Minister. Since 1975, the committee has advised the Prime Minister of the day on the propriety of any business appointments that Crown servants take up when they leave Crown service. Following a recommendation of the Committee on Standards in Public Life, it also provides advice directly to former Ministers on their business appointments. The Prime Minister has expressed his gratitude to the commitee for all its work on this. This report gives an account of its work in 2000-01. Copies have been placed in the Libraries of both Houses.

Ministerial Code

Lord Tomlinson: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	When they plan to publish a revised Ministerial Code and Travel by Ministers.

Lord Williams of Mostyn: The Prime Minister has recently published a revised Ministerial Code and Travel by Ministers. The Ministerial Code and Travel by Ministers provide guidance to Ministers on how they should conduct themselves in carrying out their official duties. The foreword to the code makes it clear that the Prime Minister will expect all Ministers to operate within the letter and spirit of the code. The revised code takes account of recommendations made by the Committee on Standards in Public Life.
	Copies of both documents have been placed in the Libraries of the House.

Ministerial Overseas Visits

Lord Tomlinson: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	If they will (a) list government expenditure on ministerial overseas visits for the financial years 1995-96 to 2000-01 and (b) all visits overseas undertaken by Cabinet Ministers costing in excess of £500 between 1 April 2000 and 31 March 2001, including the cost, destination and purpose of the visit.

Lord Williams of Mostyn: Expenditure on ministerial overseas visits for the periods requested is estimated as follows:
	
		
			 Year £ million 
			 1995-96 7.3 
			 1996-97 7.9 
			 2 May 1997-31 March 1998 6.4 
			 1998-99 4.9 
			 1999-2000 4.6 
			 2000-01 4.7 
		
	
	(1) The figure for 1995-96 does not include some expenditure falling to the Ministry of Defence and the Welsh Office because the information was not recorded centrally or is incomplete. Full costs are available from 1996-97 onwards.
	A list of all visits overseas undertaken by Cabinet Ministers costing £500 or more during the period
	1 April 2000 to 31 March 2001 has been placed in the Libraries of the House. The list provides details of the date, destination and purpose of all such visits and the cost of Ministers' travel and accommodation where appropriate.

Special Advisers

Lord Lipsey: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether they will place in the Library of the House the correct arrangements relating to the employment of special advisers.

Lord Williams of Mostyn: The Prime Minister has placed in the Libraries of the House copies of the new Code for Special Advisers and the revised Model Contract for Special Advisers, together with details of the new pay arrangements for special advisers and a list of the special advisers currently in post.

Small Arms: UN Conference on Illicit Trade

Lord Hylton: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What particular proposals they will make at the United Nations Conference on Illicit Trade in Small Arms and Light Weapons in All Its Aspects, to be held in New York on 9 July; and whether they will include the following items:
	(a) close co-operation between the major arms exporting states;
	(b) control over international arms brokers;
	(c) restriction of exports to armies lacking adequate discipline;
	(d) support for the International Action Network on Small Arms (IANSA) and other non-governmental organisations; and
	(e) encouragement and funding of regional collection and destruction of weapons and ammunition, especially when combined with local development projects.

Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean: The Government attach great importance to supporting efforts to reduce the uncontrolled spread and use of small and light weapons. The UK and its European partners have consistently maintained that the current UN Conference on the Illicit Trade in Small Arms and Light Weapons in All Its Aspects should adopt a politically binding programme of action containing concrete measures to deal with both the supply and demand side of the trade. The UK has made substantial contributions to proposals put forward by the EU and which reflect the noble Lord's concerns. These include export control and export licensing crtieria--this would include the issue of diversion to end-users of concern; work towards a legally binding instrument on the marking, tracing and brokering of small arms; management of stockpiles and surpluses, and destruction; disarmament; demobilisation and reintegration (DD&R) of ex-combatants; and assistance for implementation of concrete measures, through, for example, weapons collection and destruction, capacity-building for border control, customs and law enforcement etc.
	FCO officials have been in frequent and close consultation with EU partners, both bilaterally and through the regular EU working groups which discuss these issues. We also have many formal and informal contacts with, for example, the US and others in various arms control regimes and working groups, through which officials are able to discuss the subject of small arms and light weapons and other related issues. We also had contact with the US during the meetings in the preparatory process for the conference itself. In February this year, the UK hosted a small arms and light weapons policy brainstorming seminar to which a wide selection of countries was invited. The then Foreign Secretary addressed that meeting.
	The Government also acknowledge the important role which NGOs and civil society can play in this field. We are working to see their interests reflected in the conference's programme of action and in its follow-up.
	The Government have developed a forward looking small arms strategy as part of the Global Conflict Prevention Pool mechanism. Ministers have agreed to support joint FCO, MoD and DfID proposals to address the proliferation and misuse of small arms and light weapons to the tune of £19.5 million over the next three years. These funds will support the outcome of the UN conference as well as addressing concrete supply and demand issues, research and support for NGOs, including IANSA, and civil society groups.

Nuclear Warheads: Destruction

Lord Hylton: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	How many nuclear warheads, and how much weapons-grade plutonium, have been destroyed, or made unusable by (a) the United States, (b) Russia, and (c) other countries, since May 1997.

Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean: We have no precise information on the numbers of nuclear warheads, or the amount of weapons-grade plutonium, which has been destroyed or made unuseable by the United States, Russia or other countries (outside of the UK) since May 1997. Russian and US nuclear disarmament programmes initiated prior to this, such as START I and the Presidential Nuclear Initiatives on tactical nuclear weapons, have continued throughout this period. In September 2000 the US and Russia agreed to dispose of 34 tonnes of weapons-grade plutonium each. The UK is contributing funding to the Russian side of this programme.
	Since May 1997, the UK has completed its programme of dismantling all RAF WE-177 free-fall nuclear bombs. The programme to dismantle our remaining Chevaline (Polaris) warheads is on course to be completed by March 2002. As announced in the Strategic Defence Review, we are placing 0·3 tonnes of weapons grade plutonium under European Atomic Energy Community (EURATOM) safeguards and making it liable to inspection by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).

Biological and Toxin Weapons Convention Protocol

Lord Judd: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What are their policy objectives at the Ad Hoc Group negotiating a protocol to the Biological and Toxin Weapons Convention; and what would be their response to any reluctance by another country to accept the chairman's composite text as a basis for concluding the negotiations.

Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean: Her Majesty's Government will continue to press for a successful outcome to the negotiations on a Protocol to the Biological and Toxin Weapons Convention. At the next session of the Ad Hoc Group, the UK Delegation will be working actively with the chairman and other delegations involved to seek agreement on a Protocol text that is acceptable to all. Given the leading role that Her Majesty's Government have played in these negotiations, it would be a matter for regret if any countries were eventually unable to join consensus. The Government will, however, work hard to avoid such an outcome.

Biological and Toxin Weapons Convention Protocol

Lord Judd: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What priority they accord to the work of the Ad Hoc Group negotiating a Protocol to the Biological and Toxin Weapons Convention in ensuring that the convention is adequate to meet their assessment of the risks of the proliferation of biological weapons.

Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean: Her Majesty's Government have taken into account their assessments of biological weapons proliferation in shaping their approach to the Ad Hoc Group negotiations and in the design of the key compliance measures for inclusion in the Protocol to the Biological and Toxin Weapons Convention: Declarations, Visits and Investigations. The Government have also drawn upon technical assessments of those measures which would help create increased transparency in order to build greater confidence in compliance. These assessments are based in part on lessons gained from an extensive programme of practice challenge inspections and visits. The Government will continue to press for a successful outcome to the negotiations on a Protocol to the Biological and Toxin Weapons Convention.

Biological Weapons: Risk of Proliferation

Lord Judd: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What is their current assessment of the risk of the proliferation of biological weapons.

Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean: We assess that a number of countries around the world either possess, or are seeking to acquire, biological weapons and their means of delivery. The risks of proliferation and the threat posed to the United Kingdom and its armed forces by such weapons were described in the Ministry of Defence's 1999 publication Defending against the Threat from Biological and Chemical Weapons. A copy of this publication has been placed in the Library of the House. We continue to monitor the risks of proliferation actively and to pursue the range of policies set out in the paper to counter them, namely arms control, preventing supply, deterring use and defending against.

Strategic Export Controls Annual Report

Lord McCarthy: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	When the annual report on Strategic Export Controls will be published.

Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean: The 2000 Annual Report on Strategic Export Controls was published on 20 July. The report marks a further step forward in this Government's commitment to transparent and responsible controls on British strategic exports. It includes more detail on export licensing decisions and policy than in previous years, including data on surplus small arms destroyed by the Government and the number of small arms covered by standard individual export licences agreed in 2000. It will be available on the FCO website and through the Stationery Office.

Conventional Arms Register: UK Return

Lord McCarthy: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	When the United Kingdom submitted its 2000 return to the United Nations Register of Conventional Arms.

Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean: The Government submitted the UK's return to the UN register covering conventional arms transfers in calendar year 2000 on 11 July. Copies have been placed in the Libraries of both Houses.

Yugoslavia: EU Sanctions

Lord McCarthy: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What changes have been made to European Union sanctions in relation to the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia.

Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean: In its conclusions of 22 January 2001, the EU General Affairs Council welcomed the free and fair conditions in which the legislative elections in Serbia in December 2000 had been held. Their outcome confirmed the determination of the people of Serbia to continue the consolidation of democracy in their country. It was decided that restrictive measures should therefore be confined to the former President of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, Mr Slobodan Milosevic, his family and persons indicted by the International Criminal Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia.
	On 26 February 2001, the list of those affected by the EU visa ban was amended from 600 to 13 to fall in line with this decision. On 19 June 2001, the EC adopted Council Regulation (EC) 1205/2001 reducing the number of persons subject to Council Regulation (EC) No 2488/2000, maintaining a freeze of funds in relation to Mr Milosevic and those persons associated with him, to the same list of persons.
	UK implementing legislation will be amended to take account of EC Regulation 1205/2001.

Triclosan

The Countess of Mar: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What are the carcinogenic, mutagenic and toxic properties of the anti-bacterial agent Triclosan; whether they are satisfied that all the safety criteria are met for chronic dosing, for example, when it is used as an ingredient in toothpaste; and whether these criteria are met where children are concerned.

Lord Hunt of Kings Heath: The toxicological properties of Triclosan have been extensively investigated. An independent expert committee advised the European Commission in 1986 that Triclosan could be used safely in all types of cosmetic products at levels up to 0.3 per cent. It has low toxicity and does not give rise to concern with regard to mutagenic or carcinogenic properties, nor with regard to effects on the reproductive system or development of offspring.
	Triclosan has been used as an anti-bacterial agent in cosmetic products for many years. The EU Cosmetic Directive, which is implemented in the United Kingdom by Department of Trade and Industry's Comestic Products (Safety) Regulations allows the use of up to 0.3 per cent Triclosan as a preservative in such products. It has also been widely used in household products, and in certain medicinal products such as medicated toothpastes, athlete's foot treatments and antiseptic creams and lotions which are licensed by the Medicines Control Agency.

Peterborough District Hospital: Medical Beds

Baroness Masham of Ilton: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether there is a shortage of medical beds at Peterborough District Hospital, leading to waits on trolleys in corridors before a bed becomes vacant; and whether they have plans to increase the numbers of beds and registered nurses there.

Lord Hunt of Kings Heath: Peterborough District Hospital has a medical assessment unit which opened four years ago. The medical assessment unit is designed to ensure that medical admissions are dealt with appropriately, and that trolley waits for patients are reduced. The unit has recently been upgraded, and capacity increased to 14 beds.
	All hospitals are reviewing their capacity and future bed needs as part of the current local modernisation review.

National Minimum Standards for Care Homes for Younger Adults and Adult Placements

Lord Mancroft: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	In drawing up the proposed national minimum standards for care homes for younger adults and adult placements: (a) how many representatives of service users with drug and alcohol problems were consulted; (b) when and where these consultations took place; (c) how many of the service users representatives in this group actively supported the specific proposals in relation to bedrooms and bathrooms; and (d) how many of these service users representatives expressed concerns about the possible impact of these proposals on access to treatment.

Lord Hunt of Kings Heath: Service users continue to be consulted on the development of the national minimum standards for care homes for younger adults and adult placements. The Government also carried out an in-depth consultation exercise targeted specifically at service users with drug or alcohol problems. We will continue to take users views into account in the development of these proposals.

Medical Treatment: Children Act 1989

The Countess of Mar: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether it is within the remit of the Children Act 1989 for the matter of competent medical treatment being followed by a child (in the case of a competent child, with his/her consent or, in the case of non-competent child, with parental consent) to be challenged; and
	Whether it is the responsibility or within the authority of a doctor, a National Health Service trust, a health authority or a local authority to seek a ruling from a court, under the inherent jurisdiction, regarding which type of medical treatment a child should receive in the case of a child who is already receiving competent medical treatment (in the case of a competent child, with his/her consent or, in the case of a non-competent child with parental consent; and
	Whether where there is not a generally agreed method of treatment, it is within the authority, or is the responsibility of a doctor to refer a child to a local authority as a child who is suffering or likely to suffer significant harm because the child's parents have declined the treatment offered by that doctor and have chosen instead, with the agreement of the child's general practitioner to follow an alternative competent treatment provided by another doctor; and whether it is within the local authority's Children Act 1989 powers to initiate action under Section 47 or to apply for an Assessment Order (Section 43), an Emergency Protection Order (Section 44) or a Care Supervision Order (Part IV) in those circumstances; and
	Whether it is within the remit of Section 47(1) of the Children Act 1989 for a local authority to initiate child protection procedures in order to investigate a child who is following competent medical advice and treatment as suffering or likely to suffer significant harm, following a referral from a doctor or education officer challenging the child's doctor's advice and treatment; and
	Whether it is a matter for clinical judgment to determine whether a child diagnosed as suffering from a chronic illness such as myalgic encephalomyelitis is fit to attend school or, if not fit to attend school fit to benefit from home tuition; whether any resultant loss of education or social isolation because the child remains at home under his/her doctor's advice is a matter of child protection concern; and whether in those circumstances, it is within the remit of the Children Act 1989 to make a referral or initiate a Section 47 investigation on the grounds of impairment of development.

Lord Hunt of Kings Heath: Parents local authorities and other interested parties with the leave of the court as required may apply for a determination by the court of issues concerning a child's welfare under the court's inherent jurisdiction and the Children Act 1989. Normally, a child's parents would decide on that child's behalf (where the child is competent with his or her agreement) between a range of treatment options. The jurisdiction of the court would generally be invoked in connection with medical treatment where those with parental responsibility disagreed as to the appropriate treatment or where the competent child was opposed to treatment which his or her parents sought. Such proceedings would only be initiated by medical professionals or a referral made in these circumstances to a local authority where the medical professionals involved had genuine concerns that the healthcare decisions being made by those with parental responsibility for a child (or by a competent child himself or herself) were not in the child's best interests.
	If somebody believes that a child may be suffering, or may be at risk of suffering significant harm, they should always refer their concerns to the local authority social services department. While professionals should seek, in general, to discuss any concerns with the family and, where possible, seek their agreement to making referrals to social services, this should only be done where such discussion and agreement seeking will not place a child at increased risk of significant harm.
	Local authorities have a statutory duty, under Section 47 of the Children Act 1989, to make enquiries if they have reasonable cause to suspect that a child in their area is suffering, or is likely to suffer significant harm, to enable them to decide whether they should take any action to safeguard or promote the child's welfare.
	The Framework for the Assessment of Children in Need and their Families is equally relevant in these circumstances as a structured framework for collecting, drawing together and analysing available information about a child and family. It will help to provide sound evidence on which to base often difficult professional judgments about whether to intervene to safeguard a child and promote his or her welfare and, if so, how best to do so and with what intended outcomes.
	It is inevitable that each child protection referral will turn on its own facts but it is vital that all such referrals, whatever their origin, are taken seriously. Following appropriate assessment, and where appropriate police investigation, the local authority should take whatever action it considers necessary to safeguard the child and promote his or her welfare. This may include taking emergency action to protect the child or initiating proceedings in the family court.
	Local education authorities must make arrangements for the provision of suitable education for children who cannot attend school for reasons of illness or injury, It is for each local education authority to decide in individual cases what is suitable provision and this might include, for example, home tuition. In making their decision, local education authorities would of course need to take account of advice provided by medical professionals. There should be close liaison between hospital consultants, general practitioners, schools and the appropriate local education authority, so that educational support can be provided quickly and effectively for sick children. The Department for Education and Skills will be publishing revised guidance on the education of sick children in the autumn.

Intermediate Care Services

Baroness Barker: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	How the budget allocated year-on-year to intermediate care within the National Health Service has been allocated to each region.

Lord Hunt of Kings Heath: Funding for intermediate care forms part of unified locations to health authorities. Unified allocations are based on a weighted capitation formula which determines every health authority's fair share of availabe resources.

Intermediate Care Services

Baroness Barker: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What arrangements they have put in place to monitor the levels of spending on intermediate care services in (a) each National Health Service region; (b) each primary care trust; and (c) each local authority; and
	How they propose to record and report on the use which is made by National Health Service regions of the budgets allocated to them for intermediate care services; and
	What arrangements they propose to assess the quality of intermediate care services and, within that assessment, to collect, monitor and respond to the views and experiences of older people.

Lord Hunt of Kings Heath: Arrangements for planning, monitoring and evaluating local intermediate care services were set out in the Department of Health circular Intermediate Care (HSC 2001:01: LAC (2001)01), published on 19 January 2001. A copy is available in the Library.

Intermediate Care Services

Baroness Barker: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What is their planned annual spending to be dedicated to intermediate care for (i) 2001-02, (ii) 2002-03, (iii) 2003-04; and to specify for each year (1) the number of intermediate care beds that this will deliver, (2) in which health authority these beds will be located, and (3) whether these beds will be located in (a) a hospital, or (b) a care home; and
	What is the intermediate care budget for this financial year; and whether, if the full allocation is not spent this year, it will be ring-fenced for use in intermediate care in the following financial year.

Lord Hunt of Kings Heath: Details of the funding of intermediate care and community equipment services were set out in a joint Health Service and Local Authority Circular (HSC 2001/001--LAC (2001)1) Intermediate Care, issued on 19 January 2001. The National Health Service Plan sets a target of at least 5,000 additional intermediate care beds by 2003-04. The National Service Framework for Older People, published on 27 March, sets an interim milestone of at least 1,500 additional intermediate care beds by March 2002 compared with the 1999-2000 baseline. Information on the number of additional intermediate care beds by health authority, and in which setting, is not yet available. All these publications are available in the Library.

Intermediate Care Services

Baroness Barker: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	How many intermediate care beds their commitment in the National Health Service Plan will deliver; and how many (i) occupational therapists, (ii) physiotherapists, (iii) auxiliaries, (iv) care assistants, (v) nurses and (vi) nursing assistants will be required to staff these beds.

Lord Hunt of Kings Heath: The National Health Service Plan set a target of at least 5,000 additional intermediate care beds by 2003-04. Staffing levels required will vary according to the model of care.

Intermediate Care Services

Baroness Barker: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	(i) How many patients they expect to benefit from the extra intermediate care beds announced in the National Health Service Plan each year for the next three financial years including the current financial year; (ii) what assessment they have made of the average length of stay for each patient; and (iii) what estimate they have made of percentage bed occupancy over the same period.

Lord Hunt of Kings Heath: The National Service Framework for Older People, published on 27 March, sets milestones for at least 60,000 additional people receiving intermediate care services (all models of care) by March 2002, and at least 220,000 by March 2004, compared with the 1999-2000 baseline. Information is not currently available about average length of stay for in-patient intermediate care, or percentage bed occupancy. A period of intermediate care should not normally exceed six weeks and will frequently last no more than one to two weeks. The report of the National Beds Inquiry (February 2000) stated that an average bed occupancy of no more than 82 per cent in the general and acute sector was required to avoid problems arising from peaks in demand and emergency pressures.

Intermediate Care Services

Baroness Barker: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What performance indicators they will introduce to measure the performance of the increased number of intermediate care beds announced in the National Health Service Plan.

Lord Hunt of Kings Heath: The National Health Service performance monitoring system will monitor developments on all the targets in the NHS relating to intermediate care, including the provision of intermediate care beds.

Breast Implants: Select Committee Report

Baroness Goudie: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	When they will respond to the House of Commons Health Committee's report on the provision of information on the safety of breast implants.

Lord Hunt of Kings Heath: The Government's response has been provided to the committee and copies are available in the Library.

Medical Devices Agency: Annual Report and Accounts

Baroness Andrews: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether they will publish the 2000-01 annual report and accounts of the Medical Devices Agency.

Lord Hunt of Kings Heath: We have received the report and accounts of the Medical Devices Agency and copies have been laid before both Houses of Parliament in accordance with the requirements of Sections 5(2) and 5(3) of the Exchequer and Audit Departments Act 1921. Copies have also been placed in the Library.

NHS Pensions Agency: Annual Report and Accounts

Baroness Andrews: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	When they will publish the annual report and accounts of the National Health Service Pensions Agency.

Lord Hunt of Kings Heath: We have approved the report and accounts which have been laid before both Houses of Parliament in accordance with the requirements of Section 5(2) and 5(3) of the Exchequer and Audit Departments Act 1921. Copies have been placed in the Library.

NHS Purchasing and Supply Agency: Annual Report and Accounts

Baroness Andrews: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	When the National Health Service Purchasing and Supply Agency will publish its annual report and accounts.

Lord Hunt of Kings Heath: The NHS Purchasing and Supply Agency's annual report and accounts have been published and copies have been placed in the Library.

Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority: Reseach Applications

Baroness Turner of Camden: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority has received any applications for research for the purposes set out in the Human Fertilisation and Embryology (Research Purposes) Regulations 2001.

Lord Hunt of Kings Heath: The Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority (HFEA) has recently received an application for research from the Centre for Genome Research in Edinburgh. I understand that this centre has an established research team which has already held licences for embryo and stem cell research.
	The application proposes to establish stem cell lines from spare embryos, with a view to depositing the resulting cells in the Medical Research Council stem cell bank, to improve understanding of the growth and survival of pre-implantation human embryos, thereby benefiting in-vitro fertilisation treatment programmes. The proposed programme will also examine the potential for cell replacement and tissue repair therapies for a range of serious diseases.
	Embryo research in the United Kingdom is subject to the most comprehensive regulation. As with all applications for research involving embryos, this application will be subject to detailed consideration by the HFEA to ensure that it meets the strict requirements of the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Act 1990. Before deciding on the application, the HFEA requires full details of the project and Research Ethics Committee approval. The application must also explain the project's objectives, protocols and why the use of embryos is necessary for the research.
	This application will require specific justification for the extraction of stem cells and will be subject to peer review on its merits. It will also require details of patient information and consent forms specifying the purpose of the research and all possible uses of the cells lines derived from it. If approved, the project will be closely monitored by the HFEA to ensure that it continues to meet the conditions laid down by the 1990 Act and any conditions imposed by the authority.

Medicines Commission: Annual Report

Baroness Wilkins: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	When they expect to receive the Annual Report of the Medicines Commission for 2000; and whether they will publish it.

Lord Hunt of Kings Heath: We have received the report, and copies have been laid before both Houses of Parliament today in accordance with the requirements of section 5(2) of the Medicines Act 1968.
	Sound volumes have been placed in the Library containing the 2000 reports of the Medicines Commission, the Committee on Safety of Medicines, the Advisory Board on the Registration of Homeopathic Products, the British Pharmacopoeia Commission, the Veterinary Products Committee and the Independent Review Panel on Advertising.
	We are glad to acknowledge the valuable work done by the distinguished members of the Medicines Act advisory bodies and thank them for the time and effort dedicated in the public interest to this important work.

Antimicrobial Resistance

Lord Peston: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	When they will respond to the House of Lords Science and Technology Committee's third report on antimicrobial resistance and when they will announce the membership of the new Specialist Advisory Committee on Antimicrobial Resistance.

Lord Hunt of Kings Heath: The Government's response to the House of Lords Science and Technology Committee's third report is laid before Parliament today. Copies are available in the Library.
	We are pleased to announce that the response includes details of membership of the new Specialist Advisory Committee on Antimicrobial Resistance.

Healthcare Provision: Number of Doctors in UK and France

Lord Lester of Herne Hill: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Further to the Written Answer by Lord Hunt of Kings Heath of 10 July (WA72), what is the number of doctors per capita in the United Kingdom, compared with the number of doctors per capita in France.

Lord Hunt of Kings Heath: Figures published by the Organisation of Economic Corporation and Development show that the number of doctors per capita in the United Kingdom in 1998 was 1.7 per 1,000 head of population and that the number of doctors per capita in France was 3.0 per 1,000 head of population.
	These figures should be interpreted with caution, as different countries calculate the figures in different ways. The UK figures include only those doctors working in the National Health Service. Most other countries include all doctors entitled to practise. Figures for France include all active doctors, including some doctors without a medical practice.

NHS Pensions Agency: Partial Contractorisation

Lord Acton: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether they will make a statement on the outcome of the partial contractorisation of the NHS Pensions Agency, announced to both Houses on 6 March 2000.

Lord Hunt of Kings Heath: I can announce that today a contract has been awarded to Envision, a consortium of Paymaster 1836 Ltd and Sema. The contract covers IT operations, information systems development, medical advisory services, estates management, pensioner administration and payroll and some support services currently carried out by the agency, including finance and general clerical support. In total the contract covers some 55 per cent of the agency's current running costs.

Generic Medicines

Lord Acton: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	When they intend to publish their proposals for future supply and reimbursement of generic medicines for the National Health Service.

Lord Hunt of Kings Heath: The Government are today publishing a paper setting out proposals for the future supply and reimbursement of generic medicines for the National Health Service in the community, for discussion with interested parties. We are also today issuing a consultation document on a review of the present statutory maximum price scheme for generic medicines. Copies of the documents have been placed in the Libraries of both Houses. They are also available on the Internet at www.doh.gov.uk/generics.

Lone Parents on Income Support: Deductions

Earl Russell: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What proportion of lone parents on income support are subject to deductions from their benefits; what is the average amount of these deductions; and what are the causes for which they are being paid.

Baroness Hollis of Heigham: At February 2001, 57.6 per cent of income support lone parent cases had one or more deductions from their benefit. Information by number of cases, deduction type and amount is in the table.
	
		Deductions from Income Support Payments to Lone Parents by Type and Average Weekly Amount, as at February 2001
		
			 Type of deduction Number of cases (thousands) Average amount deducted (£ pw) Cases with a deduction as a percentage of all lone parents on Income Support 
			 All types 756.3 10.92 . 
			 Electricity 7.7 12.15 0.9 
			 Gas 17.3 11.00 1.9 
			 Water and sewerage 69.6 6.64 7.8 
			 Mortgage Interest 49.3 50.16 5.5 
			 Other housing costs 56.7 4.74 6.3 
			 Community charge-- lower 11.2 2.64 1.2 
			 Community charge-- higher -- -- -- 
			 Council tax 86.3 2.63 9.6 
			 Fines recovery 6.0 2.63 0.7 
			 Social Fund recovery 387.3 10.70 43.3 
			 Overpayment recovery 64.9 5.44 7.3 
		
	
	Notes:
	1. "All types" total does not represent the number of cases with a deduction but the total number of deductions being made across all cases. Therefore this figure cannot be expressed as a percentage of the lone parent IS caseload.
	2. Figures are based on a 5 per cent sample and are therefore subject to a degree of sampling error.
	3. Lone parents are defined as single claimants aged under age 60, with dependents, where the claimant does not receive a disability premium.
	4. Caseload figures are rounded to the nearest hundred and are expressed in thousands. Totals may not sum due to rounding.
	5. "--" denotes nil or negligible.
	6. "." denotes that the figure is not appropriate.
	Source: Income Support Quarterly Statistical Enquiry, February 2001.

Foot and Mouth: Contiguous Cull Regime

Lord Willoughby de Broke: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	How many flocks and herds slaughtered out under the contiguous cull regime were blood-tested for foot and mouth; and what number of these proved positive.

Lord Whitty: Information is not available on a flock or herd basis. However, the following table shows the number of contiguous premises that were tested and the numbers of cattle, sheep, pigs and goats that were slaughtered on those premises.
	
		
			 Result Number of Premises Sampled Cattle Slaughtered Sheep Slaughtered Pigs Slaughtered Goats Slaughtered 
			 Positive 28 3,938 9,072 2 0 
			 Negative 189 12,407 84,581 4,449 16 
			 Awaiting result 22 1,726 16,487 76 5 
			  
			 Total 239 18,071 110,140 4,527 21 
		
	
	A negative test result does not necessarily mean that the premises were free from disease. For instance, positive results may not be produced from samples taken when the disease is in its later stages or from newly infected animals where antibodies have not yet developed.

Farm Business Advice Service

Baroness Miller of Chilthorne Domer: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What assessment they are making of the quality of advice on offer from the new farmers advice service; what waiting time farmers are experiencing between requesting advice and receiving advice; and whether this varies region by region.

Lord Whitty: Advice under the Farm Business Advice Service (FBAS) is being delivered through the Business Link network and is subject to the same quality control measures as all Business Link branded services. These procedures include a review of action plans produced and feedback from farmers receiving the service. An external evaluation of the service is planned for early 2002.
	As a result of the foot and mouth disease outbreak, visits to farms by FBAS advisers were put on hold in February. As the outbreak is being brought under control, visits to farms have resumed. This follows an assessment of the risks involved by the State Veterinary Service and the adoption of strict biosecurity measures by the advisers when they make a farm visit. This will inevitably mean that farmers in some regions will have to wait longer for the service to be delivered than in others. It is too early to tell how quickly we will be able to clear the backlog of farmers awaiting delivery of the service.

Endangered Species: Commercial Meat Trade

Lord Lester of Herne Hill: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether they will propose the introduction of measures by the governments of the other European Union member states to combat the threat to endangered species caused by the trade in bushmeat.

Lord Whitty: The Government have no plans to make such proposals. Endangered species affected by the bushmeat trade are already fully protected by their inclusion in the appendices of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES). This is implemented in the European Union by Council Regulation (EC) No 338/97 and Commission Regulation (EC) No 939/97 and commercial trade in the meat of endangered species is strictly prohibited.

Deer Management

Baroness Miller of Chilthorne Domer: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether they consider that there is a need to put deer management on a statutory basis in England and Wales.

Lord Whitty: The Government have no plans to introduce further legislation controlling the management of deer. The Government consider that the Deer Act 1991 is adequate.

Foot and Mouth Disease Relief Charities: Match-funding

Baroness Byford: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	What is the total amount of government match-funding given to the foot and mouth disease relief charities to date; and how this has been allocated to each charity.

Lord Whitty: The Countryside Agency is implementing in England the Government's commitment to match donations from the public to help charities to alleviate hardship as a result of foot and mouth disease. Up until the 16 July it had made payments totalling £6,834,000 in respect of England. Further payments are being processed.
	The breakdown of funding is as follows: Rural Stress Information £332,000; Cumbrian Community Foundation £91,843; the Hadfield Trust £127,000; the ARC Addington Fund £2,044,000; and the Royal Agricultural Benevolent Institution £4,240,000.
	The match funding is allocated on a pound for pound basis and is dependent on the charity having raised £25,000 or more in public donations.
	The agency has agreed to work in partnership with the Welsh Assembly to operate a scheme in Wales. Two payments totalling £1,051,398 have been made under this scheme: the £1,003,817 to the Addington Fund and £47,581 to the Royal Agricultural Benevolent Institution.
	To date only one application has been received by the Scottish Executive. This is currently being processed. Further applications are expected before the closing date of 31 July.

Litter

Lord Hardy of Wath: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	How many times the litter advisory group has met since January 2000; and what advice it has offered during this period.

Lord Whitty: The litter advisory group is yet to be formed. The group will comprise representatives from organisations that have responsibilities with respect to litter. The group will be chaired by DEFRA and its remit will be to review the existing litter legislation and make recommendations about the changes and additions that are required.

Litter

Lord Hardy of Wath: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether they consider that prevention or deterrence of the dropping of litter within the property or in close proximity of a school is the responsibility of the school itself or the relevant local education authority.

Lord Whitty: Schools are classified as duty bodies and therefore have a responsibility to deter, prevent and clean up the dropping of litter on their property. Under the Environmental Protection Act 1990, litter laying on the surrounding public land is the responsibility of the local authority and litter laying on the surrounding private land is the responsibility of the property owner. However, if the school is the source of the litter, the Government would expect the duty body to extend its responsibility to the surrounding land.

Litter

Lord Hardy of Wath: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	How many litter control areas have been designated in each local authority since the Litter Control Areas Order 1991 was introduced.

Lord Whitty: Information on the number of litter control areas designated in each local authority area since the Litter Control Areas Order 1991 was introduced is not held centrally. Areas designated, as litter control areas are entered on a public register maintained by each principal litter authority.

Foot and Mouth Disease: On-farm Burial

The Duke of Montrose: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether, given their stated ranking of preferred options for disposal of carcasses during an outbreak of foot and mouth, at what date was the on-farm burial of animals identified by the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food as the preferred means of disposal.

Lord Whitty: Rendering has always been the preferred method of disposal during the current foot and mouth outbreak. However, because rendering capacity is limited, other means of disposal, including on-farm burial, have also had to be used.

Rights of Way Map

Lord Greaves: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	Whether tenders have been invited by the Countryside Agency for work connected with establishing the definitive map of rights of way under Part II of the Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000; if so, when they were invited; what was the work for which tenders were sought; when they were due to be returned; and what decisions have been made; and
	What progress has been made on starting the process and procedures for establishing the definitive map of rights of way under Part II of the Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000.

Lord Whitty: Definitive maps were first required to be produced under the National Parks and Access to the Countryside Act 1949. They are the responsibility of the local highway authority, which (under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981) has a duty to keep the definitive map and statement under continuous review and to make such modifications as it deems necessary.
	The Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000 provides for a cut-off date in 25 years' time for recording of certain rights of way on definitive maps and the extinguishment of those not so recorded by that date. In order to ensure that the definitive maps are as complete as possible by this date, the Government have asked the Countryside Agency to consider ways of co-ordinating the efforts of user groups in researching any as yet undiscovered rights of way.
	The Countryside Agency invited tenders for work associated with completing these local highway authority definitive maps, following OJEC contractual procedures, in February 2001. Interviews were held at the end of March. The agency invited consultants to advise on the most effective way of involving voluntary groups in research on unrecorded rights of way. They were specifically asked to: estimate the extent of unrecorded rights of way; report on the issues affecting the ability of highway authorities to complete their definitive map; recommend ways of improving the quantity and quality of research on unrecorded rights of way--this might include provision of information and training; prepare research standards to encourage high quality applications to modify each definitive map; recommend other ways to improve the process of recording historic rights on definitive maps--this might, for example, include ways on making archive material more easily available to researchers; consult with and ensure that any proposals are likely to be acceptable to the bodies involved in the programme of historical research, such as local highway authorities, voluntary groups; landowning groups, the planning inspectorate and archive offices.
	The contract was offered on 12 July and, if accepted, we expect work to begin in August with a view to having a scheme to support voluntary work in place by spring 2002.

Common Land: Possible Improvements to Legislation

Lord Williams of Elvel: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	When they propose to publish the White Paper on common land.

Lord Whitty: The Government have been considering possible improvements to the legislation on common land and town and village greens, as set out last year in the consultation paper Greater Protection and Better Management of Common Land in England and Wales. We intend to publish a report on the responses and to announce the way forward later this year. Progress has been delayed by the diversion of staff to deal with the consequences of foot and mouth disease.

Inputs Task Force Report

Baroness Byford: asked Her Majesty's Government:
	When they will respond to the report from the Inputs Task Force.

Lord Whitty: A response is being prepared and will be published as soon as possible given other priorities in the department.

Peers' Expenses

Lord Marlesford: asked the Chairman of Committees:
	How many Peers, of those who claimed expenses in the years 1999-2000 and 2000-01 respectively, claimed total expenses of under £1,000, £1,001-£5,000, £5,001-£10,000, £10,001-£15,000, £15,001-£20,000, £20,001-£25,000, £25,001-£30,000 and over £30,000 respectively.

Lord Tordoff: In financial years 1999-2000 and 2000-01 Peers claimed total expenses as follows:
	
		
			  1999-2000 2000-01 
			 Under £1,000 109 43 
			 £1,001-£5,000 196 96 
			 £5,001-£10,000 168 97 
			 £10,001-£15,000 117 100 
			 £15,001-£20,000 100 63 
			 £20,001-£25,000 78 68 
			 £25,001-£30,000 55 71 
			 Over £30,000 22 33

Peers' Expenses

Lord Marlesford: asked the Chairman of Committees:
	Whether he will breakdown the total expenditure on expenses of Peers, as shown in the Annual Report and Accounts of the House of Lords for the years 1999-2000 and 2000-01 between (a) travelling expenses; (b) night subsistence; (c) day subsistence and incidental travel; and (d) secretarial costs, postage and certain additional expenses.

Lord Tordoff: The total expenditure of £9,389,611 in financial year 1999-2000 and £8,411,551 in financial year 2000-01 on Peers' expenses was made up as follows:
	
		
			  1999-2000 2000-01 
			 (a) Travelling expenses £1,942,394 £1,643,744 
			 (b) Night subsistence £2,885,084 £2,540,450 
			 (c) Day subsistence and incidental travel £2,053,041 £,1,821,182 
			 (d) Secretarial costs, postage and certain additional expenses £2,067,774 £1,910,335 
		
	
	In addition, a total of £441,318 in 1999-2000 and £495,840 in 2000-01 was expended as follows:
	
		
			  1999-2000 2000-01 
			 Allowances for Lords' Ministers and Office Holders £170,146 £165,936 
			 Personal accident and travel insurance £22,384 £17,390 
			 Financial assistance to Opposition parties in the House of Lords £248,788 £312,514